The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Association Press, and news outlets as far away as Australia reported on the Legislative sanction. The idea, nicknamed "Pay it Forward," would allow students to attend college for free and have a small percentage of their future income taken into a fund to pay for the next generation.

Students in a senior-year capstone class taught by Mary King and Barbara Dudley came up with the proposal and lobbied the Oregon Legislature to turn the idea into law. Much of the news hype around the approved legislation reported that it was a done deal. However, legislators voted to have a commission study the idea and if it looks promising, a pilot program is on the agenda for the 2015 session.

In the meantime, Oregon Congressional Sen. Jeff Merkley says he will introduce national legislation intended at providing federal money to help states test the tuition model.